Relation between body height and weight in adult humans

Series of values for body height of adults ranging from 150 to 190 cm and the corresponding body weights for 9 age groups from 15 to 65 a are interrelated by 5 test functions. Results of nonlinear regressions as gained by minimization of the sums of the squares and absolute values of the deviations are summarized in tables for comparison. The last position in the goodness-of-fit is held by the allometric relation W = alpha L beta preceded by the exponential type W = abL. No considerable gain can be realised by taking the expression W = a exp (b Lp). A big step is reached, however, with the change to the form W = W150 + alpha (L-150) beta reducing the linear deviations to about 1/3 or more. Finally the 3-parameter structure W = W A + alpha (L-150) beta yields even closer approximations. Tables with the results for the last 2 relations are given together with a graph for the best approximation.